Fume eliminator



July 9, 1963 L. E. RUSSELL FUME ELIMINATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1961 EXHHUSTINVENTOR. 4/4/05 5. EUSS'ZL United States Patent ()flice 3,096,704 FUMEELIMINATOR Linus E. Russell, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to. Peters &Russell, 1110., Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 23,1961, Ser- No. 133,403 4 Claims. (Cl. 98-115) This invention relates tofume eliminators or exhaust hoods for evacuating fumes in the filling offuel tanks and the like. Although not so limited it has particularutility .as an article of marine equipment, useful in connection withdockside refilling of in-board fuel tanks.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of fume eliminators, whereby sucheliminators may not only be.

economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactoryin use, adaptable to a wide variety of application, and be unlikely toget out of order.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of the kinddescribed having independent, separable application to fuel tanks andthe like, and having general application to fuel tanks of differingconstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exhaust hood of simpleone-piece construction readily applicable to and removable from a fueltank.

A further object of the invention is to present an exhaust hood in theform of a boot constructed and arranged for a simplified entrainment andcarrying off of fumes released incident to refueling.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an exhaust boot asdescribed made of a material resistant to the deteriorating action offuel compounds, and made resilient and deformable with attendantadvantages of cushioning and adaptability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fume eliminatorpossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviouslynot necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan elevation of a device in accordance withthe illustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, taken from theclosed end thereof and showing the device turned 90 from what may beconsidered its normal attitude;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation, at the same scale as FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partly diagrammatic view showing the exhaust boot of theinvention installed for fume removal; and

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 3.

Like par-ts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, an exhaust hood hereinafter referred to as aboot, in accordance with the illustrated form of the invention is aone-piece hollow article suitably formed, as by molding, to aconfiguration as shown. Thus it has a cylindrical, elongated portion .10providing a large open area 11 at its one end for connection withsuction applying means. The opposite end of cylindrical portion 10terminates in a toe portion 12, which is flattened in diametricallyopposed areas to define vertically spaced apart transverse walls 13. and14. The, sides and adjacent end of the boot at the toe unitarily jointhe walls 13 and 14 and-cooperate therewith in defining an enclosedchamber 15 which is in free and open communication with the interior ofcylindrical portion 10.

A through opening 16 is formed in the wall 13 and is aligned with a likethrough opening 17 in the wall 14, These are adapted respectively toreceive a filler hose noz; zle and the spout or inlet fitting of a fuelstorage or like tank, with the nozzle being introduced into the. spoutwithin the enclosed chamber 15.

A circumferential section of the cylindrical portion 10 is formed with alongitudinally extending flat 18. This flat or flattened area mergeswith and occupies approximately the same plane as the bottom wall 14 oftoe portion 12. Wall 14 and flat area 18 define the bottom of the boot,locating it normally in the attitude shown in FIG. 3, with the openings16 and 17 vertically aligned and opening 16 overlying opening 17.Cylindrical portion 10. inclines upwardly from the area 18, and from thetop wall 13 of the toe, facilitating connection of the open end 11thereof to suction applying means. The boot is, in this connection, madeof amaterial sufliciently rigid that the boot tends to hold its shape asshown.

According to a feature of the invention, the boot, although possessingsome rigidity as described, is made of a resilient deformable material,for example a synthetic such as neoprene. It is thus inexpensive andsturdy of construction as well as being resistant to attack bydetericrating fuel compounds. Also the toe 12 and elongated portion 10provides cushioned support for the fuel nozzle and handle inhibitingmarring of a deck surface or the like. Openings 16 and 17 may also, inaccordance with this concept, be accommodated to spouts and nozzles ofdifferent size. According to a further feature of the invention,however, one or both openings 16 and 17 are designed to receive theirrespective nozzle or spout with a loose fit whereby to allow air toenter chamber 15 and be drawn therefrom to outlet opening 11.

In the use of the exhaust boot, one example of which is diagrammaticallyindicated in FIG. 4, the open end -11 is suitably connected to exhaustfan means, as by being attached to a flexible conduit 19 leading to adock mounted exhaust fan unit 21. The boot is applied to a fuel tank 22in the boat, being in the case of an underdeck integral storage tank putin a position of rest on the deck, with the spout or inlet fitting 23 ofthe tank projecting upward through opening 17 into the enclosed chamber15. A filler nozzle 24- then is inserted through the overlying opening16 into chamber 15 and introduced into the fitting 23. Then, as fillingcommences, exhaust unit 21 is energized and produces a continuingnegative pressure in the exhaust boot. A flow of air accordingly isinduced from outside the boot through one or both the openings 16 and 17and thence through the boot and conduit 1'9 for discharge at the exhaust2.1. In the process, noxious fumes released from the discharging fueland from the fuel tank are entrained and carried with the air away fromthe boot.

Fro-m the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the Patent dJuly 9, 1,963.

invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that themeans and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of severalmodes of putting the invention into eifect, and the invention istherefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications :within thelegitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An accessory for the elimination of fumes in the filling of fueltanks and the like, the inlet to which is defined by a projectedfitting, consisting of a one piece hollow resilient body structure aportion of which provides a base having an aperture opening to itsinterior, said base being elongated and formed to extend laterally ofsaid aperture and provide a cushioned support for said body structure assaid aperture accommodates a fitting on a fuel tank to projecttherethrough to the interior of said body structure, means defining asecond aperture in said body structure over and generally aligned withsaid first mentioned aperture, said second aperture being formed toreceive the nozzle of a fuel delivery spout therethrough with clearancetherebetween, whereby the nozzle may be freely introduced to the fittinginteriorly of said body structure, and means defining a passage forapplication of suction to the interior of said body structure to drawair through at least said second mentioned aperture to entrain the fumesin and about said body structure and disperse them through said passage.

'2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 characterized by the uppersurface of said body structure being formed adjacent said secondmentioned aperture to afiord a cushioned support for the fuel deliveryspout the nozzle of which is introduced in said fitting interiorly ofsaid body structure.

3. An accessory for the elimination of fumes in the filling of fueltanks and the like, the inlet for said tank being defined by aprojecting fitting, comprising a one piece semi-rigid hollow bodystructure including a tubular open section at one end and a closedrectangular section at the other end, said rectangular section havingtop and bottom parallel walls, means defining aligned apertures in saidtop and bottom walls of said closed rectangular section, the aperture insaid bottom wall being formed to admit the projected fitting of saidfuel tank to project interiorly in said body structure, the meansdefining the aperture in the top wall being formed to admit the deliverynozzle of a fuel spout with clearance therebetween Whereby said nozzlemay be freely introduced to said fitting interiorly of said bodystructure, said tubular section being adapted for application of suctiontherethrough to cause an inflow of air to the interior of said bodythrough said aperture in the top wall of said body to scavenge the fumeswhich may occur therein and thereabout and flow them in a direction toexit through said tubular section.

4. The structure according to claim 3 in which the one piece hollow bodystructure is composed of a rubber-like material to provide a cushioningsupport for the nozzle of the fuel spout when said nozzle is introducedinto said fitting interiorly of said body structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,378,123 Beck June 12, 1945 2,874,733 Sesler et al. Feb. 24, 19592,939,614 Hill June 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,560 France Oct. 11, 19 9

1. AN ACCESSORY FOR THE ELMINATION OF FUMES IN THE FILLING OF FUEL TANKSAND THE LIKE, THE INLET TO WHICH IS DEFINED BY A PROJECTED FITTING,CONSISTING OF A ONE PIECE HOLLOW RESILIENT BODY STRUCTURE A PORTION OFWHICH PROVIDES A VASE ELONGATED AND FORMED TO EXTEND LATERALLY OF BASEBEING ELONGATED AND FORMED TO EXTEND LATERALLY OF SAID APERTURE ANDPROVIDE A CUSHIONED SUPPORT FOR SAID BODY STRUCTURE AS SAID APERTUREACCOMMODATES A FITTING ON A FUEL TANK TO PROJECT THERETHROUGH TO THEINTERIOR OF SAID BODY STRUCTURE, MEANS DEFINING A SECOND APERTURE INSAID BODY STRUCTURE OVER AND GENERALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONEDAPERTURE, SAID SECOND APERTURE BEING FORMED TO RECEIVE THE NOZZLE OFFUEL DELIVERY SPOUT THERETHROUGH WITH CLEARANCE THEREBETWEEN, WHEREBYTHE NOZZLE MAY BE FREELY INTRODUCED TO THE FITTING INTERIORLY OF SAIDBODY STRUCTURE, AND MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGE FOR APPLICATION OF SUCTIONTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY STRUCTURE TO DRAW AIR THROUGH AT LEAST SAIDSECOND MENTIONED APERTURE TO ENTRAIN THE FUMES IN AND ABOUT SAI DBODYSTRUCTURE AND DISPERSE THEM THROUGH SAID PASSAGE.